Hotels in Suceava

Suceava was the capital of medieval Moldavia under Stephen the Great, and the hilltop Seat Fortress where he ruled still dominates the city, with the open-air Bukovina Village Museum of wooden farmhouses next door. Most visitors, though, come for what lies beyond the city limits: Suceava is the practical base for Bukovina's painted monasteries, including Voroneț, Humor, Moldovița and Sucevița, whose UNESCO-listed exterior frescoes are among Romania's great sights.

Be honest: the city itself is largely a functional sprawl of communist-era apartment blocks with a modest centre, and the monasteries are scattered across the countryside, so you'll need a car, a driver or an organised tour rather than relying on public transport. Winters are long and cold this far north-east, which makes late spring through early autumn the easier season for touring. Suceava Ștefan cel Mare International Airport sits just outside town, handy for short trips. Stay in the centre, around Piața 22 Decembrie, for walkable access to the fortress, restaurants and the roads heading out to the monasteries.